Brooks Glycerin Max
Stats - Drop 6mm (55.5-49.5)
Weight - 10.5 oz (M9)
Intro
For the past few years, it's no secret that Brooks has been one of the most reliable shoe companies in North America. However, with this reliability, it has sometimes meant Brooks has missed the boat on some of the more exciting advancements that is taking over the running industry by storm. With shoe development going absolutely wild right now, it was only a matter of time before Brooks decided to take a leap of faith, and deviate from their path of predictable, and reliable footwear. The Glycerin Max is the newest creation from Brooks, and is unapologetically loud, big, bold, and even a bit weird, new territory for the legacy running brand.
Did Brooks get this one right, or did they jump into the deep end a bit too far…
Fit, Upper, and Step in feel
Right off the bat, this shoe just has a premium feel. The upper, heel collar, and lacing all feel well thought out, and very comfortable. These shoes don't have a hard edge in sight, and it’s obvious that comfort was on the minds of the Brooks innovation team with this one. When I first laced up the shoe, I was a bit concerned that my heel was going to have a hard time staying put, given the excessive amount of padding, but after fiddling with the laces for a minute, I was able to get my (albeit, very tiny heel) foot in a locked down, comfortable position. This shoe fit me absolutely true to size, and a bit more narrow than I am used to with Brooks legacy shoes, like the Glycerin 21.
Sweet, Sweet, Midsole
The midsole is really what makes this shoe special. With an all new compound Brooks is calling ‘DNA Tuned’ they’ve accomplished something pretty special here. To blend a perfect balance between responsive, fast, bouncy, and plush, soft, cushioned, they have opted for a ‘duel cell, nitrogen infused foam’ where in the heel has larger, softer foam cell structure, to promote soft cushioned landing, and smaller, tighter knit cells in the forefoot to add responsiveness and promote a speedier transition. One thing to be concerned about when the stack height gets this high is always going to be its lack of inherent stability. However, the use of a slightly firmer foam on the outside of the midsole (like a cage surrounding the squishy stuff) has left this shoe feeling more stable than I expected while keeping weight decently low. Overall I really felt this shoe is a great mix of cushioned feel and responsiveness, and made long runs and easy runs feel comfortable and smooth. If you tried to compare the midsole to other shoes in the same price point, you’ll find that it doesn't have a true comparison in the market right now. It feels like a much softer Superblast, or like the SC trainer, but without the added weight that comes with a carbon plate. It really is unique in its midsole feel, and for me, it makes running a ton of fun.
Who needs this Shoe
At $250 we can agree that this shoe isn’t cheap. However in the land of $375 carbon plated racing shoes, we seem to be getting a pretty good deal, when we realize how much technology is jammed into this shoe. In my personal experience with this shoe so far (Now over 100km in in just 4 weeks) I’ve been using this shoe on my longer runs, and on days where I want to run at a more steady pace. The feeling of explosiveness and speed from the forefoot toe spring is very apparent, and keeps me moving forward with ease. I’d recommend this shoe for anyone who is looking to try something a bit more modern, and fun. Are you tired of the Ghost, the Cumulus? Is the glycerin even feeling like it's not exciting enough for you? Then this would be my first choice for you to try.
Conclusion
The wait is over from Brooks, this shoe seems to mark a new point in their brands progression, they’ve proven that they are creative, innovative and fun. It shows that this brand has accepted the trajectory of the modern shoe industry, and got on board with the Supertrainer trend. If you are looking for a max cushioned, responsive trainer, for daily use, and high performance long runs, give this shoe a try!
